The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of nine suspects accused of carrying out the deadly attack on Yelwata Community in Benue State, where about 150 people were killed on June 13, 2025.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Monday, directing that the defendants be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications. The case was adjourned to February 26 and 27 for trial.
The suspects were arraigned on a 57-count amended charge bordering on terrorism-related offences. They pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following their plea, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led the prosecution team, requested an accelerated trial and asked the court to remand the defendants in custody.
Citing Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Fagbemi said the defendants’ not-guilty plea triggered the court’s jurisdiction to proceed with trial. He also disclosed that the prosecution plans to call about eight witnesses.
Counsel to the 1st, 8th and 9th defendants, Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), sought permission to move an oral bail application, noting that a bail request had already been filed before the amended charge was served. However, Justice Abdulmalik declined the request and directed him to file a formal application instead.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the suspects allegedly carried out the attack that left many homes burnt and scores injured, in addition to the reported deaths. Security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), later arrested them through a coordinated operation.
Those arraigned are Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.
Earlier, the prosecution informed the court that an amended charge had been filed. The AGF requested that the name of one defendant, Yakubu Mamah, be struck out. The defence did not object, and the court removed his name. The earlier charge was also withdrawn and replaced with the amended one.
The 57-count charge includes allegations that the defendants and others still at large met between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State to plan acts of terrorism, including the Yelwata attack. Prosecutors say the assault led to the burning of houses, serious injuries and the deaths of about 150 residents.
One of the counts alleges that the first defendant instigated and directed others to mobilise youths across several states to carry out the attack.
The offences are said to violate provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
